The Oakville Chamber of Commerce kicked off BDC Small Business Week 2014TM with keynote speaker Jim Treliving Left to right: Sharon Connolly, Vice President, Financing & Consulting GTA West for BDC, James Lefebvre, Director Business Services

for First Ontario Credit Union, Keynote Speaker Jim Treliving, Kerry Colborne, Chair of the Oakville Chamber

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THE OAKVILLE CHAMBER

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Table of Contents

Kerry Colborne, Force 10 Capital ManagementFrance Fournier, Whole Foods MarketCaroline Hughes, Ford CanadaKen Nevar, Cooper Construction Ltd.Orla Johnston, SOCS Retail Solutions Inc.Barry Wylie, Canadian Club of Halton PeelCameron Neil, Feltmate Delibato Heagle LLP

Lisa Azzuolo, Genworth CanadaDon Bassindale, Re/Max Aboutowne Realty Corp.Tim Caddigan, Cogeco Cable Canada LPClaire Drage, Mortgage AllianceMark Egbedeyi-Emmanuel, P.Eng., Union GasIshrani Henry, Integra Tire OakvilleElaine Holding, SB Partners LLPLisa Piccolo, SheridanHal Shaw, Intelligent OfficeStephen Tkaczyk, Shred-It InternationalSusan Towle, Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada

BOARD OF DIRECTORSCHAIR OF THE BOARD

VICE CHAIRVICE CHAIRVICE CHAIR

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRTREASURER

CORPORATE SECRETARY

DIRECTORS

ADMINISTRATION

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT, POLICY &GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

OFFICE MANAGER

EVENTS, MARKETING &COMMITTEE MANAGER

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATION & EVENTS SUPPORT

SALESVICE PRESIDENT,

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The Oakville Chamber is the voice of the Oakville business community. We provide member benefits including: advocacy, corporate benefits, networking opportunities, business development and educational forums. Our mission is to foster a healthy, engaged and sustainable business environment and economy in Oakville.

Contact Us:700 Kerr Street, Suite 200

Oakville, ON L6K 3W5905.845.6613

oakvillechamber.com

In ThisIssue

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111213151618

Chair’sMessage

Calender ofEvents

Small Business WeekLunch & Learn

Member ProfileFairsplit

ArticleContent Marketing

FedDev Investing in Business Innovation

2014 Municipal Election

Refer a new member and receive $100 off

your next year’s membership renewal!

Cover Photo courtesy of Fotografia Boutique

Volunteer ProfileCameron Mackie

Small Business WeekTradeshow

Membersin the NEWS

905.845.6613John Sawyer, ext. 202 johnsawyer@oakvillechamber.com

Faye Lyons, ext. 211faye@oakvillechamber.com Sharon Molloy, ext. 206 sharon@oakvillechamber.com

Carina Cicero, ext. 205carina@oakvillechamber.comDanielle Leonard, ext. 209danielle@oakvillechamber.comWhitney Johnston, ext. 201whitney@oakvillechamber.com Karen Pomfret, ext. 210karen@oakvillechamber.com

Marc Tremblay, ext. 204marctremblay@oakvillechamber.com

PRINTING, DESIGN & LAYOUT by pocket press printers

Small Business WeekKickoff

President’sMessage

4

On the last weekend of September, I was honoured to attend the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in beautiful C h a r l o t t e t ow n , PEI with Oakville Chamber President John Sawyer. As the chamber network’s must-attend event of the year, we had the

opportunity to focus on the latest developments, trends, and issues pertinent to the Canadian business community.

I had the great pleasure of meeting delegates representing chambers and boards of trade from across Canada (there were over 300 in attendance.) It was empowering to experience the collective strength of the Canadian Chamber network and, subsequently, to recognize our ability to facilitate change for the good of business in communities from Whitehorse to St. John.The theme for this year’s AGM, “Building a Stronger Future Together,” focused on topics around restoring Canada’s competitiveness, as well as the competitiveness and relevance of chambers of commerce. The speaker lineup was as impressive as it was varied, offering a rich foundation of information upon which the Oakville Chamber can build success in the coming year. Notable among them was Harrison Coerver, author of Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations, who discussed the need for chambers to focus on what they do well and abandon the programs with marginal return. It was an interesting take on how a business sometimes needs to “shrink to grow.”

Also speaking was Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, who explained the latest efforts by government to ensure Canadians have the skills needed in today’s workforce. Given the Oakville Chamber’s strong reputation for advocacy among all levels of government, I was especially interested in this, as well as a later presentation that explored ways in which the chamber network can lobby more effectively at all three levels to grow its policy wins, strengthen the voice of business, and increase its relevance to the business community.

As is the case with every AGM, there were numerous proposed resolutions submitted by chambers across the country – this year counted 73 resolutions in all. Each is based on an issue addressed by chamber members, then brought to the AGM floor for a healthy debate. Once approved, the resolutions become official policy of the Canadian Chamber and form the basis for policy recommendations to the federal government. Brought forward this year were resolutions that related to finance and taxation, transport and infrastructure, environment and natural resources, human resources, industry, and international affairs. For more information on them, visit www.chamber.ca/events/agm-2014.

It was a weekend packed with incredible learning opportunities and dynamic conversations against the backdrop of beautiful Prince Edward Island. I truly look forward to applying this new wealth of knowledge as I begin my term as the Chair of the Board.

Kerry ColborneChair of the BoardOakville Chamber of Commerce

THE OAKVILLE CHAMBERChair’sMessage

Kerry Colborne with Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment & Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism

Kerry Colborne with Alan O’Dette, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Kerry Colborne with Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce

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Calendar of EventsNOV/DECWednesday december 10Business After Hours 5:00pm to 7:00pmPuckz Pub3070 Neyagawa Blvd.

Wednesday december 17Aon Good Morning Oakville BreakfastHoliday Giveaway!7:30am to 9:30amGlen Abbey Golf Club1333 Dorval Drive Oakville

Wednesday november 12Business After Hours 5:00pm to 7:00pmCogeco Cable Canada LP950 Syscon Road Burlington

Wednesday november 19Aon Good Morning Oakville Breakfast7:30am to 9:30amGlen Abbey Golf Club1333 Dorval Drive Oakville

Thursday november 20YPEG Speaker Series: Sunjay Nath5:30pm to 7:30pmGlen Abbey Golf Club1333 Dorval Drive Oakville

REGiStER At: oakvillechamber.com

Main Street Relationships, Bay Street Results

700 Kerr Street, Oakville, Ontario L6K 3W5 | 905-842-8030 | www.omh.ca

Corporate & Commercial

Environmental

Civil Litigation

Criminal Law

Labour & Employment

Real Estate

Estates & Trusts

Municipal

Halton’s Law FirmOwen Duguid Paul D. Stunt R obert Krizman Brian J. Hanna Jarvis G. Sheridan Larry S. Gangbar RobertA.Watson Chantel Goldsmith Alexandra Manthorpe

Ruhia Jokhio Marian G. Gage Kenneth W. Watts Tanya A. Leedale Harold R. Watson James McAskill Danny Chou Carolyn McCarney

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The kickoff breakfast, featuring Boston Pizza CEO and founder Jim Treliving, was a phenomenal start to Small Business Week. He inspired the audience with anecdotes describing his financial struggles during the first five years of operating his business, as well as his remarkable climb to success. Having seen his fair share of struggling small businesses as a judge on the CBC reality TV show, Dragon’s Den, he offered a number of insights for entrepreneurs. Chief among his lessons were to “do your homework” before jumping into a new business; be passionate about what you do; and, measure your success through sales. The Oakville Chamber was honoured to host Jim Treliving whose straight business talk was delivered with charming style.

left to right: Shane Cullis, Intelligent Office, John Wannaker, Boston Pizza Dorval, Mike Haines, past Chamber Chair, Angelo Gervasio, Cogent Mortgage Solutions, Julia Hanna, Ritorno & Ristorante Julia, Jerry Balice, Nex Wellness, Warren Leppik, Cognition Productions.

BDC SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2014TM

Kickoff Breakfast with Jim Treliving

left to right: Donna Corrigan, Boston Pizza Dorval, Sandi Treliving, Jim Treliving, Lillian and John Wannamaker, Boston Pizza Dorval.

left to right: Michele Bailey, Blazing THE Agency, Sharon Connolly, BDC, Jim Treliving, Kerry Colborne, Chamber Chair, Marybeth Edge, BDC.

left to right: Chamber guest, Michael Gibson, Crestcom, Marybeth Edge, BDC, Ishrani Henry, Integra Tire Oakville.

Thank you to our Partners

Almost 80 exhibitors packed the Oakville Conference Centre for the annual Small Business Week Tradeshow & Business After Hours on Wednesday, October 22nd. With 400 attendees, the room was buzzing with guests and exhibitors. “A great experience,” raved one exhibitor. “It was great exposure and visibility,” said another. Always a popular Small Business Week event, this year’s tradeshow proved the small business community is alive and well in Oakville.

Sam Henry of Integra Tire Oakville, Dan and Robyn Brown of Snap’d Oakville.

BDC SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2014TM

Tradeshow & Business After Hours

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The team at BDC

Trevor McAlpine, Synergetic Management

Mukul Asthana, Globalkal Technology, France Fournier and Janet Fisher of Whole Foods Market Oakville, Glenn Woolfrey, Winmar Property Restoration

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Guests at the Lunch & Learn found inspiration in the keynote presentation by Blazing the Agency CEO, Michele Bailey, who shared her entrepreneurial journey during which she overcame significant professional and personal hurdles to build a hugely successful advertising agency. This was followed by an informative panel discussion by four marketing experts who offered tried-and-true strategies on how to market one’s business on a shoestring budget. Audience members, eager to extract as much expertise as possible from this insightful and engaging group, submitted questions to the panelists. It was a fitting conclusion to a week packed with fresh ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and inspired action.

left to right: Mike Marner, First Ontario Credit Union, Chamber guest, and Greg Belanger, RBC.

BDC SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2014TM

Lunch & Learn: Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Lunch & Learn guests enjoy networking.

left to right: Lunch & Learn presenters, David Wojcik, Ekna, Michele Bailey, Blazing the Agency, Grace Attard, TEC Canada, Ben Molfetta, Core Online Marketing, alongside Sharon Connelly, BDC

Five Do’s And Five Don’ts of Successful BusinessesWhat factors make Canada’s most successful businesses stand out from other firms? What do they do differently? A Study by BDC sought to answer these questions in time for BDC Small Business Week 2014. The results culminated in an insightful list of “The Five Do’s and Five Don’ts of Successful Businesses.”

The Five Do’s1. Innovate – don’t rest on your laurels.2. Ask for outside advice.3. Have a solid plan and measure your progress.4. Hire the best and keep them engaged – it takes more than money.5. Build strong relationships with your key suppliers.

The BDC Study emphasizes that every one of the Do’s and Don’ts highlighted are “within reach of all entrepreneurs” who are willing to invest the necessary time and energy. To read the entire study, visit www.bdc.ca.

The Five Don’ts1. Don’t rely on too few customers – diversify.2. Don’t underestimate the importance of effective financial management.3. Don’t leave contingency planning until it’s too late.4. Don’t ignore what’s happening in your market.5. Don’t wait too long to get help.

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VolunteerProfileCameron MackieCameron Mackie’s enterprising spirit was evident long before he opened his first Dominion Lending Centre in 2010. As a college student, while most of his peers were juggling studies with pub crawls, Cameron was building his first house which he completed at the young age of 23. More real estate developments followed under his corporation Platinum Luxury Homes (which he later merged with his consulting business Mackie Solutions) that ranged from custom homes to commercial plazas. It wasn’t until financing became a recurrent threat to the projects he was leading that Cameron switched his focus to the mortgage industry.

Now the owner of four Dominion Lending Centres located in Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, and Hamilton (which he opened November 1, 2014), he attributes much of his success to a steadfast commitment to honesty and transparency. Early in his career, he recognized the need to keep his approach simple by offering a clear value proposition: a seamless mortgage process at unbeatable mortgage rates.

“The best businesses are ones that can be explained in one sentence,” says Cameron. “I’m a mortgage broker with multiple locations, providing the best mortgage options for your lifestyle with a strategy to pay off your mortgage faster.”

When asked how he achieved such early success, Cameron is quick to reply, “I never thought about the money. I only thought about doing what’s best for the client. I truly believe success comes from trust and transparency.”

A familiar face at the Oakville Chamber’s events and member of the Young Professionals and Entrepreneur Group committee, Cameron Mackie has learned to leverage the power of his chamber membership to build his business. Thanks to the chamber’s frequent events, he appreciates the many opportunities to network with like-minded professionals and entrepreneurs which he believes helps gain “strength and trust within the community.” He makes a point of informing every client that he is a member of the chamber. This engenders a level of trust as well as respect among clients; and, he believes, they appreciate supporting a business that is involved in the local community.

Cameron’s greatest drive to succeed in his business comes from his wife, Florencia, and two young daughters, Sophia and Sienna. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his beautiful family or pursuing one of his many interests which include volleyball, golf, biking, and sailing.

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MemberProfile

For couples going through a divorce, the experience can be both emotionally and financially devastating. As one who survived her own difficult divorce ten years ago, Tatiana Terekhova knows firsthand the challenges they face. Inspired to help others navigate such a difficult period in their lives, she opened Fairsplit to provide couples and individuals with unbiased and professional financial advice during separation and divorce.

“During this often shocking life phase, even the most educated people need professional guidance and clarity,” says Tatiana. Clients show up with many questions: Can I afford to live in my house? What happens to my pension? What if my spousal support stops? Fairsplit addresses these concerns, and more, while bringing together Ontario court financial forms with traditional financial planning tools for one cohesive financial solution.

“My services can save thousands of dollars during a divorce, as well as set the newly single person for a financially sound future,” emphasizes Tatiana whose tools maximize tax benefits and avoid tax traps related to divorce. She also helps her clients significantly curb legal expenses through her financial preparation services. Working independently of any financial institution, she does not solicit financial products or services, nor does she provide legal advice. Fairsplit always recommends her clients obtain legal representation or, at the very least, independent legal advice.

From 2005 to 2014, Tatiana worked as a financial advisor with CIBC Imperial Service in Toronto, Mississauga, and Oakville, where she provided financial planning to clients in life transitions such as marriage, job loss, retirement, sickness, and death. During this period, her greatest passion was to help those managing the financial challenges of separation and divorce. Tatiana Terekhova acquired her CFP designation in 2004, her CDFA (Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts) in

2008, and FDS (Academy of Divorce Financial Specialists) in 2014. She completed collaborative law training as a financial professional in 2014 and currently belongs to Peel Halton Collaborative Family Law Practice Group.

The recent trend in “grey divorce” in which married couples, 55 years and older, are increasingly choosing to part ways is a new niche that Fairsplit is prepared to fill. Given the complexity of boomers’ finances the need for a financial profession specializing solely in separation and divorce is greater than ever.

Fairsplit can be engaged at any stage in the divorce process by couples and individuals, as well as by family lawyers, mediators, and collaborative law teams. However, a couple can save more time, money, and drama if Fairsplit is included early in the process. Many people employ her services while they’re still considering the possibility of separation to determine “what if ” scenarios. With Tatiana’s help, they are able to weigh all the financial aspects in advance. This “what if ” analysis is often capable of saving a marriage by addressing monetary issues that are driving the desire for divorce (such as excessive debt and opposing spending/saving habits.) Alternatively, some couples choose to work harder at fixing their relationship once they see the financial devastation a divorce will cost them.

“We love doing work that not only saves our client money, but might also save a good marriage,” says Tatiana.

Fairsplit offers free introductory consultations for up to 1 hour from her Oakville corporate office location: 2275 Upper Middle Road East, Oakville. For valuable resources, visit her website at www.fairsplit.ca or email info@fairsplit.ca.

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For 23 years the Oakville Chamber of Commerce has proudly partnered with the Business Development Bank of Canada to celebrate BDC Small Business WeekTM . As an organization that represents over 1,100 member businesses,

we recognize how vital small businesses are to our economy – both locally and nationally. The year’s Small Business Week, which took place October 20-24, was an opportunity to promote this vibrant segment of the business community.

In Canada, 70% of the private sector workforce is employed by a small business and 78% of the country’s private sector jobs are created by small businesses. Once you consider that up to 41% of Canada’s gross domestic product is generated by small business, it’s clear that their drive to succeed leads to serious results, fostering vibrant and prosperous local economies across the country.

The theme for this year’s Small Business Week was ‘Back to basics. Re-energize your business.’ Our kickoff breakfast, featuring Boston Pizza CEO and founder, and Dragon’s Den judge Jim Treliving, offered the perfect start. Inspiring the audience with his personal story of financial struggle during the first five years of operating his business, Jim emphasized the need to achieve results through hard work, passion for your business, and ultimately, sales – the true measure of a business’s success.

“An idea is not enough,” said Mr. Treliving, who has seen his fair share of struggling small businesses as a judge on the CBC reality TV show, Dragon’s Den. Chief among his lessons to entrepreneurs is to “do your homework” to determine if your idea is worth pursuing. An idea alone, he emphasized, is not enough to build a business.

Our annual Trade Show and Business After Hours event also enjoyed a great turnout. With over 80 exhibitors and 350 guests, it was a strong reminder that ‘back to basics’ networking remains as important

as ever. While the push to build a digital presence continues to play an increasingly significant part of marketing plans, businesses also recognize the need to balance it with real one-on-one conversations.

Our final event, Marketing on a Shoestring Budget, was an ideal conclusion to the week. The crowd had the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals as well as listen to marketing experts who shared tried-and-true strategies from social media tracking to face-to-face meetings. There was, however, one common thread to all their advice: Know your customer, and craft your strategy from there.

I’d like to thank the Small Business Week Committee, our partners, Chamber staff, and speakers for all their hard work and dedication in making this year’s Small Business Week one of our best. It is our hope that Oakville’s small business community found equal parts inspiration, opportunity, and collaboration at our events. I leave you with a quote by Lee Iacocca which I believe sums up the overall tone of this week’s events and the tenacious attitude of Oakville’s small business owners:“You’ve got to say, I think if I keep working at this and want it badly enough, I can have it. It’s called perseverance.”

John SawyerPresident

THE OAKVILLE CHAMBERPresident’sMessage

13

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The Oakville Chamber of Commerce hosted an All Candidates’ Meet & Greet, followed by a Mayoral Debate on Wednesday, October 1st. Among the 68 candidates running for office, all but four attended. With approximately 275 members of the community in attendance, the event provided a great opportunity for voters and candidates to engage in constructive conversation about issues of concern to the businesses and residents of Oakville leading up to the October 27th Municipal Election.

Politically, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce is strictly non-partisan and works with all elected official and senior staff at all four levels of government. The Chamber offers a sincere congratulations to the newly elected Oakville Town Council and wishes all those who ran for office much success in their future endeavours.

2014 Municipal Mayoral Debate & All Candidates Meet & Greet

Thank you to our partners:

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Members to RecognizeOCTOBER 2014

NewMembersMembers for 35 years

Kerreigh Ernst Insurance Agencies Ltd.

Members for 10 yearsAmonavi Consulting Group Inc.

Dreamscreens CanadaMico Systems Inc.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Members for 5 yearsAcorn Global Investments

Care Engineering & Design Services Inc.The Chartwell House Early Learning Centre

Lisa Raitt, MPPreferred Muffler, Brake & Automotive Services

The Bedford Consulting GroupWaddell Transport

september 2014Anytime Fitness Oakville on KerrBest Version Media-Joshua CreekBlue Dane Dataworks Inc.Brand Waves Digital & DesignBudget Blinds of Mississauga & Oakville WestChris Noon Creative ServicesEago CeramicsGL Chemtec InternationalGreen Organic Vegetables Inc.Jennifer Bourikas – Century 21 Dreams Inc.Ashley KamaludeenLighthouse NINE GroupMarcon International Inc.MB Management Consulting Inc.Perceptions Eyewear Inc.Purves Redmond LimitedSandman HotelsSotheby’s International Realty CanadaStrike Holdings Inc.Taylor’d Catering Inc.The Promo Guys

october 2014Avanti! CanadaBandhu Law Professional CorporationBeing GeekBoffo’sCentre Square Solutions Corp.Charity AccountsCornaliciousElm Hill CookiesEKNA Production HouseGlobal Wireless Business CommunicationsHansra Sanghera LLPMax Healthy StationsNerds On SiteOrange Keel Branding & DesignPermanent Search Group/PSG Inc.SEE by IntravisionStagevision Inc.Toronto Construction AssociationWalker’s VitaminsZoup! Oakville

If you’ve recently begun efforts to build your business’s online presence, it’s likely you’ve heard about content marketing but don’t necessarily understand what it means to your business or how it relates to marketing strategy. According to Contentmarketinginstitute.com, content marketing is defined as “a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience—and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.” In other words – create content that people are searching for that addresses the challenges and pain points related to your line of business and expertise.

While traditional marketing is often considered “push” marketing, which people avoid rather than seek out, content marketing removes selling all together and focuses on sharing information that is helpful or educational to your target market. By helping to address your target audience’s pain points with relevant content you can start to position your business as a thought leader and eventually a trusted advisor.

A content marketing campaign could include any or all of the following online tactics that, when used consistently over time, create the 7 to 27 touch points required for the average consumer to engage:

•Blogposts •Articles •Casestudies •Webinars •Videos •E-books •Infographics

According to a study by The Corporate Executive Board (a leading member-based advisory company), close to 60% of the buyer journey is complete before prospects reach out to vendors because it is now common practice for buyers to self-educate via the internet. Furthermore, these “inbound” leads have a close rate of almost 14 times that of traditional marketing, based on data by Hubspot, a company that develops and markets a top marketing and sales platform. The question you need to ask is: will it be my content, or the competitor’s content, that creates the engagement required for the prospect to make that call.

For businesses unsure of how to start, ask existing customers what they’re looking for. What would help them now? Or what would have helped them when they were looking for your product or service? The next step is to determine those tactics best suited to kickstart your content marketing strategy. Using your company website as the hub for your efforts, a combination of text and video is an ideal mix.

Video has the power to both capture and share emotion; and stirring someone’s emotions is critical in persuasion. In addition, this tactic often delivers the highest return on investment. Consider the following:

•Blogpostsincorporatingvideoattractthreetimes as many inbound links as blog posts without video;•Viewersare85%morelikelytopurchaseaproduct after watching a product video;•Companiesusingvideohavehigheraverage website conversion rates than those that don’t;•Unliketext,80%ofuserscanrememberavideo they saw a month earlier;•Customerreviewssharedviavideoaretrusted12 times more than supplier descriptions; •Justhavingvideoonyoursitebuildstrust,evenif web users don’t actually watch it.

With the average attention span of a user lasting a mere eight seconds, video can deliver large amounts of information quickly in an entertaining and engaging way. When done well, video can simplify complex concepts; exhibit how your products and/or services affect positive change; and speed up a potential customer’s familiarity with you and your products and/or services.

Of course, not every visitor to your website wants to click on a video; therefore balancing the visual component of video with complementary text-based content is a must. Not only does this help with search engine optimization, visitors will appreciate the opportunity to dig deeper into your content if the video they’ve just watched has done its job – generated a desire to learn more about your business.

Written by Warren Leppik, Executive Producer/Director of Cognition ProductionsWhat we do: unforgetable business video.

Using Content Marketing to Educate your Customer

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FedDev Investing in Business InnovationBusiness leaders gathered at Ristorante Julia in downtown Oakville to meet with The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for FedDev Ontario. The agency, which Mr. Goodyear characterized as the most efficient in the federal government, is poised to deliver $535 million in programming to help create, retain, and grow businesses, cultivate partnerships, and build strong communities across southern Ontario. Programs include:

• The Advanced Manufacturing Fund which promotes continued growth and increased productivity of Ontario’s advanced manufacturing sector; • Investments in Business Growth and Productivity that assists existing southern Ontario businesses to adopt new technologies with potential to improve productivity and expand operations; • Investment in Business Innovation which fosters a more competitive southern Ontario economy by encouraging partnerships between entrepreneurs and investors to support early-stage, globally-oriented businesses with the ability to become world-leading innovators;• Investments in Commercialization Partnerships to encourage collaboration that improves Ontario’s productivity performance to compete internationally; and• Investments in Regional Diversification designed to build stronger, more diverse economies in southern Ontario communities over the long term by leveraging unique assets and local expertise.

Citing recent investments in water technology and the food and beverage industries, the minister emphasized his agency’s goal to “convene” among competing local businesses in order to expand the benefit to all industry-specific businesses in a community. The strategy of FedDev, he noted, is not to help local businesses compete against one another, but rather to enable the entire local industry to compete internationally.

“We will put a team together if we have to,” said Mr. Goodyear with regard to how he helps a business obtain funds. “My agency has access to all ministries and ministers to make things happen. We want to help small businesses learn how to access funds and compete around the world.”After a brief presentation by the minister, guests had the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to their own circumstances. In response to questions about applying for funding, the minister said there is no window to apply – it is ongoing – and agency staff are available to help with the application process. More information about applying for FedDev can be found at www.feddevontario.gc.ca.

ChamberEventsBusiness After Hours in September hosted by BMO Bank of Montreal on Cornwall Road

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On October 24, 2014, Sheridan unveiled the Pilon School of Business in recognition of a $2.5 million gift to Sheridan from Randy and Catherine Pilon. randy Pilon is the CEO of Virox Technologies Inc. and a graduate of the Sheridan business program. The Pilon

School of Business is the new name of Sheridan’s Faculty of Business, which is based at the Hazel McCallion Campus and offers a range of degree, diploma, and post-graduate certificate programs.

Congratulations to hynek Financial Group for being presented with the “Business Excellence Award” as the leading agency in Canada for the last two years. This award combines excellence in sales and in client service and retention. HFG has been the recipient of this prestigious award for four of the last eight years!

christie henderson, Managing Partner at Henderson Partners LLP, is to be congratulated for ranking 75th in Canada’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs of Canada (W100.) Profit Magazine has been publishing its W100 ranking for 16 years to celebrate the achievements of the remarkable women running some of the country’s most successful enterprises. Henderson Partners LLP provides business advisory, accounting, wealth

management, and other services. “I’ve learned a lot about the value of being direct,” says Christie Henderson. “Having fierce conversations with your team doesn’t mean you don’t care. In fact, it means you care a lot.”

A number of Oakville Chamber members ranked among the top 50 World’s Most Attractive Employers, based on Universum’s national student surveys of more than 200,000 business and engineering students in the world’s twelve largest economies. Congratulations to siemens, Ford motor company, PriceWaterhousecoopers, and KPmG for being recognized as one of the world’s most attractive employers.

On September 8th, 2014, mark egbedeyi-emmanuel, Union Gas District Manager for Hamilton/Halton and Oakville Chamber of Commerce Director, arrived at the H.R.P.S. Children’s Safety Village and presented Chief of Police Steven J. Tanner and Cindy Lawrence, the Coordinator of the Village programs, with a generous donation of $3000. In recent years, Union Gas has generously given over $40,000 to the Children’s Safety Village, which has been used to upgrade current equipment, technologies, and audio/visual aids to assist teaching children about safety.

Members in the News

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